Hepatoprotective Activity of Boerhaavia Diffusa L

IP Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Science 2020;3(4):109–113

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IP Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Science

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Review Article Hepatoprotective activity of Boerhaavia diffusa L

Santhosha DU1, Manasa R2, Vishwanath S3, Shekhara Naik R1, Mahesh MS1,*

1Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition, Yuvaraja’s College (Autonomous), Mysuru, Karnataka, India 2Dept. of Biochemistry, JSS College for Women, Mysuru, Karnataka, India 3Dept. of Nutrition and Dietetics, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India

ARTICLEINFO ABSTRACT

Article history: Boerhavia diffusa is also known as Punarnava in Ayurveda, which is widely spread during warmer climate Received 26-11-2020 throughout the India and other countries. 6 species are available in India of which B. diffusa is one among Accepted 02-01-2020 them. In Ayurveda this plant is used for so many diseases like liver, kidney, heart, diseases. Also it cures Available online 06-02-2021 different types of cancers caused by different mechanisms. It is also used as antimicrobial, it also deals with other properties. All these properties are due to different essential phytochemical components. Here in this review we have discussed, hepatoprotective activity property of developing protection against injuries, Keywords: toxicity and other mode which put liver into dangerous condition/ toxicity. Boerhavia diffusa Punarnava © This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Hepato protective activity License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and Boerhavia diffusa extract [BDE] reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. hepatotoxicity

1. Introduction and B. rubicunda. The herbal medicine has evolved and changed through Boerhaavia diffusa L. known as Punarnava in Ayurveda the years. Similarly, it has been used in raw form as and ‘Hog weed’ in English, belonging to the family of well as extract form in various disorders. 4 In Ayurveda, Nyctaginaceae. In Ayurveda means one which renews this drug is known to be used as Mootrala (diuretic), our body and helps to regain the youthness. The genus Sothaghna (Anti-inflammatory), Kasahara (Antitussive), Boerhavia diffusa (often spelled as Boerhaavia) was jwarahara (antipyretic), Rasayana (rejuvenator). The roots named in honour of Hermann Boerhaave (1668–1738), an have clinical, pharmacological and antimicrobial properties Eighteenth century Dutch botanist, humanist and physician which helps to cure many diseases like diabetes, liver at the University of Leiden, while the species got the name diseases and kidney problems. The antiaging attributes from typical diffuse branching. The botanical name of the also incorporates being Adaptogenic, Antioxidant and as plant is often written in the literature as Boerhaavia diffusa, 1 Immunomodulator. It also has ethno botanical uses as leaves but Linnaeus Latinized Boerhaave’s name to Boerhavius are used as vegetable and juice is made from the roots which and adopted the spelling Boerhavia diffusa, which is the cures asthma, urinary disorders, rheumantism etc., correct spelling to be used. 2 Boerhavia is distributed in the temperate, tropical and sub-tropical regions like Asia, A number of phytochemicals e.g. flavonoids: (C- methylflavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3’,4’-dimethoxy- 6,8- U.S.A., and Africa. In India it is found throughout the ′ warmer parts of the country and grows up to 2000 m in the dimethylflavone, 3,5,4 - dihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone, Himalayas. 3 Mainly six species are found in India out of 40 6’, 5’-dimethoxy-5,7, 3-trihydroxyflavone, borhavone, i.e., B. diffusa, B. chinensis, B. erecta, B. repens, B. rependa, 3,3’,5-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, 4,7-dihydroxy- 3’-methylflavone), alkaloids: punarnavine, glycosides: * Corresponding author. (punarnavoside, eupalitin 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl- E-mail address: [email protected] (Mahesh MS). (1’2’)-O-β-D-galactopyranoside, 3,4- dimethoxyphenyl- https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijnmhs.2020.022 2582-6301/© 2020 Innovative Publication, All rights reserved. 109 110 Santhosha DU et al. / IP Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Science 2020;3(4):109–113

1-O-β-D apiofuranosyl-(1’3’)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside), ethnopharmacological reports. Also studied against liquor rotenoids:(boeravinone A-H), steroids, triterpenoids, lipids, toxicity of liver. Some of the phytoconstituents present in lignans, carbohydrates, proteins, and glycoproteins etc., the plant are also responsible for the protection of liver from have been reported from the herb. Several researchers the foreign bodies/ substances have conﬁrmed biological, pharmacological and clinical 5–8 activities of the plant and its phyto-constituents. 1.5. Invitro studies

1.1. Pharmacognosy The hydro alcoholic extract of roots of Boerhavia diffusa (HEBD) exhibited a signiﬁcant protective action on liver. Scientiﬁc Name: Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. 1% HEBD is mixed with 0.5% of 1.0 M magnesium acetate Kingdom: Plantae to prepare equal amount of supernatant solution and poured Phylum: Angiosperms into the gels set in the test tubes in aseptic medium. Division: Magnoliophyta The growth of crystals without and with herbal extracts Class: Magnoliopsida was monitored at regular time intervals. The inhibition of Order: Caryophyllales crystals increased as the concentration of BD increases in Family: Nyctaginace (four o’clock) the gel media as well as the dissolution of crystals at the Group: Dicotyledons gel-liquid interface increases. The de-fragmentation of some grown crystals was also noticed. 1.2. Vernacular names It is called by several different names owing to its wide 1.6. Animal studies distribution throughout the world that is, Alena (Hawaii); Olaleye and co-workers evaluated the aqueous and ethanolic Ervatostao, Agarra- pinto and Amarra-pinto (Brazil); extracts of fresh leaves. Animals pre-treated with aqueous Hogweed (Barbados); Red spiderling, Spreading hogweed ethanolic extracts shows reduction in enzymatic activities (English); Huang Xi Xin (Chinese); Ipecacuanha de serum bilirubin caused by acetaminophen. The increase Cayenne (French Guiana); and Hierba de cabra (Spanish). in alkaline phosphatase was reduced by almost 50% by aqueous and ethanolic extracts (both 400 mg/Kg, orally for 1.3. In Indian languages 7 days) whereas the increase in ALT and AST was decreased Sanskrit: Punarnava, Raktakanda, Shothaghni, Varshabhu by more than 70% and serum LDH level was restored. The increase in TBARS was also neutralized by aqueous and Kannada: Kommegida, Sanadika, Kommeberu and 10 Komma ethanolic extracts. Telugu: ErraGaligeru, Atikamamidi, Punarnava, Devaki and co-workers studied the effect of ethanolic English: Spreading Hog weed (Red), horse purslane extract of BD on tissue defence system against ethanol (White) induced hepatic injury in rats. The administration of BD Oriya: Lalapuiruni, Nalipuruni; extract (150 mg/kg/day for 30 days, orally) reversed the Assamese: Ranga Punarnabha increase in the levels of lipid peroxides and increased Kashmiri: VanjulaPunarnava; the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase and reduced Hindi: Snathikari, Gadapurna, Lalpunarnava 11 Gujarati: Dholiasaturdo, Motosatoda, Dholisaturdi, glutathione levels. Tamil: Mukaratee-Kirei, Mukurattai (Shihappu) Rawat and co-workers reported that the roots of different Malayalam: ChuvannaTazhutawa diameters were collected in three seasons, rainy, summer Marathi: Tambadivasu, Ghetuli, Vasuchimuli, and winter and examined in thioacetamide intoxicated rats. Satodimula, and Khaparkhuti; The results showed that an aqueous extract (2 ml/kg) of Bengali: Punurnava, RaktaPunarnava roots of diameter 1-3 cm, collected in the month of May Punjabi: ltcit (Ial), Khattan; (summer), exhibited marked protection of a majority of serum parameters, i.e., GOT, GPT, ACP and ALP but not GLDH and bilirubin, and suggested that the proper size 1.4. Hepatoprotective Activity and time of collection of Boerhavia diffusa roots for the Liver is an important vital organ of the body and protects the most desirable results. Further, the study proved that the body against xenobiotics and it is highly targeted by many aqueous form of drug (2ml/kg) administration has more toxic and harmful chemicals. Many studies have shown the hepatoprotective activity than the powder form; this is hepatoprotective activity of BD. 9 Researchers studied that probably due to the better absorption of the liquid form protection against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity for through the intestinal tract. It has been noted in this study BD extracts. Jaundice is a disease for which BD has been that the roots, which were thin, showed maximum protection constantly used either in traditional system of medicine or in of serum parameters. 12 Santhosha DU et al. / IP Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Science 2020;3(4):109–113 111

Chandan and co-workers evaluated the 50% aqueous aerial parts against CCl4 intoxication in in-vitro models. 16 ethanolic extract of BD whole plant given orally for its Surange and Pendse evidenced that the Ethanol extract hepatoprotective activity in carbon tetrachloride induced of root of Boerhavia diffusa have hepatoprotective effect hepatotoxicity in rats. The extract significantly decreased against country made liquor induced liver toxicity in albino the sleeping time from 225 mins to 200 mins induced by rats, the protective effect of same is evidenced by reduction CCl4 due to increase in phenobarbitone. It also lowers of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride, the SGPT level from 260 µmol/min to 200 µmol/min. It cholesterol and total lipids in both serum and tissues and showed reduction of the serum levels of SGPT, SGOT and the histopathological studies showed that marked reduction bilirubin from 270 to 205, 140 to 120, and 1.95 to 1.2 µmol, in fat deposits in animals receiving Boerhavia diffusa along respectively. It also significantly decreased the increase in with country made liquor. 17 prothrombin time induced by CCl4 from 30.43 to 19.01 sec. Also, the bromosulphalein clearance was reduced to 3 2. Conclusion times from 16 times by administration of BD extract. It also almost doubles the flow of bile. 13 As the name affirmed Punarnava (Punar + Nava). Punar means - once again, nava means becoming new, really because of its multiple benefits and pharmacological actions, Punarnava proved itself as magical natural remedy by Ayurveda. Majorly the leaves and the roots are used earlier for the treatment of jaundice, either in the form of raw powder or decoction form. But later when the pharmaceutical era evolved the whole plant from flower to its roots are used for the treatment of diseases. Numerous reports have supported its protective activity on liver diseases. An invitro study conducted on inhibition of crystal growth in liver showed that mixture of magnesium acetate and the herbal extract had effect on inhibiting the growth of crystals when the concentration of herbal extract was Fig. 1: Mechanism of Hepatoprotection by BDE increased, when compared to control which had no herbal extract. Gulati and co-workers prepared 50% aqueous ethanolic Animal studies confirmed that the ethanolic extract of extract of BD roots and evaluated hepatoprotection at a leaves of the plant increased the levels on ALT, AST and dose of 100 mg/100 g in hepatotoxicity induced by country decreased the acetaminophen induced toxicity in rats. In made liquor. BD extract reduced the increment in serum other study conducted on ethanol induced hepatic injury parameters indicative of damage to the liver. The increase showed that the ethanolic extract increased the serum in SGPT, SAP, triglycerides, and total lipid levels was enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase etc., and their decreased by almost 50% by administration of BD extract activities which confirm the protective activity on hepatic while the level of cholesterol was completely restored. injury. 11 SGOT level was not much affected. Histopathological study Rawat and others have worked on roots of plant that of the liver showed minimal fatty cysts in BD treated group. are collected in different seasons with different sizes and The author suggested an additional antilipidemic activity confirmed that the roots collected during summer with thin along with hepatoprotective activity. 14 size had more protection of serum parameters like GOT, Rajkumari and co-workers also studied that the root GPT, ACP, ALP conducted on thioacetamide induced liver extract of the plant have hepatoprotective effect in toxicity in rat and showed more protection. 12 A study carbon tetra chloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats, which conducted on country made liquor induced toxicity in albino is evident by modulation in titre of serum alanine rats showed that increase in ALT, TG, total lipid and aminotransferase (ALT), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol and cholesterol levels and decreased fat deposits, which reduced total lipid. 15 the toxicity of liver. 17 Chakraborti and co-workers studied the hepatoprotective All these studies showed that the Boerhavia diffusa has action and it was evident from the reduction in the increased protective effect on liver from its diseases. But in vitro tests levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase using laboratory animals and very few clinical studies were (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and available. So, the results obtained may not necessarily be alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the treated rats. They also extrapolated to the situation in humans. So further toxicity reported that hepatoprotective activity of a steroid androst- test on the plant especially during prolonged administration 5-ene analogue (200 µg/ml) and a flavone 6, 5’-dimethoxy- is essential. While there are gaps in the studies conducted 5, 7, 3’-trihydroxyflavone (50 µg/ml) isolated from the so far, which need to be bridged in order to exploit the full 112 Santhosha DU et al. / IP Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Science 2020;3(4):109–113

Table 1: Plant part and type of extract used for the Hepatoprotective activity Plant part used Type of extract Type of Induced Activity References toxicity Fresh leaves Aqueous Acetaminophen ↓ enzymatic activities 10 Ethanolic ↓Serum bilirubin ↓ALP, ALT, AST ↓Serum LDL ↓Neutralisation of TBARS Plant extract Ethanolic Ethanol induced ↑lipid peroxides 11 hepatic injury ↑superoxide, dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-tranferase ↓glutathione levels Root Aqueous Thioacetamide Protection of serum parameters like 12 GOT, GPT, ALP, ALP Whole plant Aqueous Carbon tetra chloride ↓sleeping time 13 ↓SGPT, SGOT& Bilirubin ↓prothrombin time ↑ﬂow of bile Whole plant Aqueous Country made liquor ↑SGPT, SAP, TG, Total lipid level 14 ↓other serum parameters Root Aqueous Carbon tetra chloride Modulation in titre level of serum 15 ALT, TG, Total lipid, cholesterol Aerial parts phytochemicals Carbon tetra chloride ↓SGOT, GPT, ALP 16 plant Ethanol Country made liquor ↓ALT, TG, Total lipid, cholesterol 17

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Cite this article: Santhosha DU, Manasa R, Vishwanath S, Naik R S, Santhosha DU, Student Mahesh MS. Hepatoprotective activity of Boerhaavia diffusa L. IP J Nutr Metab Health Sci 2020;3(4):109-113. Manasa R, Assistant Professor